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A Method for Tracking the Time Evolution of Steady-State Evoked Potentials
Published on: May 25, 2019
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Auditory steady-state responses in school-aged children: a pilot study.
Luciana Macedo de Resende1, Sirley Alves da Silva Carvalho2, Thamara Suzi Dos Santos3
1Speech Therapy and Audiology Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. lucianamr@medicina.ufmg.br.
Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation
|April 18, 2015
Summary
Auditory Steady-State Responses (ASSRs) show promise for screening school-aged children, especially those with testing difficulties. This pilot study found ASSRs to be a sensitive and specific auditory screening tool.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Pediatric audiology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Auditory Steady-State Responses (ASSRs) have not been explored for auditory screening in school-aged children, particularly those with disabilities or who are difficult to test.
- This pilot study addresses this gap by investigating ASSR utility in school-aged children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of Auditory Steady-State Responses (ASSRs) as an auditory screening tool for school-aged children.
- To determine optimal parameters for ASSR screening in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional pilot study involving 23 normal-hearing children and 7 children with moderate-to-profound bilateral hearing loss (ages 9-11).
- ASSRs were recorded at carrier frequencies of 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 Hz, modulated between 77-107 Hz, at intensity levels of 50, 40, and 30 dB SPL.
- Sensitivity and specificity were calculated based on responses from both groups.
Main Results:
- The 2,000 Hz frequency was most frequently detected in normal-hearing children across all tested intensity levels.
- ASSRs demonstrated high sensitivity (97%) and specificity (100% at 50 dB SPL).
- The test duration was approximately 15 minutes, including preparation time.
Conclusions:
- ASSRs are a feasible and highly sensitive auditory screening tool for school-aged children, particularly those with hearing impairments or difficulties with subjective tests.
- A screening protocol could incorporate 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 Hz, with 50 dB SPL as a recommended cut-off criterion.
- Future research with larger samples and inclusion of children with mild hearing loss is recommended to refine screening protocols.
